Bigt -- June's Artist Of The Month!

Who is BigT? Ok first things first, a BIG thank you to all
the people that took the time to vote for me, and also may I send a
greeting out to the other Nominees; I just want to let you guys
know I didn't think I was in with a chance after seeing all your
brilliant work! Talk about tough competition!...Well done to you
all!! Well I'm BigT, real name Tony Sellars, I live in Yorkshire,
which is a beautiful part of the UK, I'm in my late 40's and have
always had a love of art. If you were wondering, the BigT nickname
I picked up way back in school, I was tall for my age, not now, I'm
just a normal six footer, I just got there quick! How long have
you have you been rendering/doing computer graphics? I have
been dabbling in computer art for about 2 years or so, which is
when I first got Poser 4. Later I found Renderosity and my interest
deepened greatly, seeing all that great artwork, not to mention all
that freestuff, I was like a kid in a sweetshop!! Do you have
traditional art experience? I have no formal art training other
than the usual school classroom stuff, but I have always loved
sketching and did some work in the 80's with an airbrush and some
motorscooter panels for some friends who assured me I was quite
good, not to mention 'Free', and for more years than I can remember
I have enjoyed building and painting scale models, achieving
"competition standard" no less, which I think gave me an eye for
detail and composition. What are you currently working on? I
simply work on what what takes my fancy, I have no commercial
experience although I have been advised on quite a few occasions to
produce a book containing my images, which is what I would really
love to do. Time will tell I guess. The other thing I am working on
is improving my Postwork which is an area I really enjoy doing,
plus I would like to learn 3D modelling which I think I will try to
develop further this year if possible. What software do you use
and why? Thanks to friends in the States I recently upgraded to
Poser 5 and have found the move to be a good thing. I for one love
the extra features found in 5 and find it runs flawlessly on my
system. All my postwork is done in Photoshop 7. I also use Vue
occasionally but have yet to use it to anywhere near it's
potential. What do you think your best piece of work is and
why? I don't have favourites as such, every piece I do I try to
improve in some sense, although that does not always happen, but I
think it's good if you can look back and see mistakes you made and
later improved on. Most of your pieces seem to involve dragons.
What is it that draws you back to this subject? Yes, a lot of
my stuff does seem to revolve around our scaly friends it seems;
they just sort of evolved from nowhere and became a part of what I
do best. I actually find I enjoy using them greatly, I am a fairly
modest person but I think I can claim to be a world authority on
posing these fella's. Just because of how often I do it! :) Also I
think with the dragons you can really let your imagination loose
and get away with it!! Why do you like to work with 3D
software? I like to work with 3D software because I find it's
almost instantly pleasing. When I was building the scale models I
mentioned earlier I would spend many evenings going into months,
painstakingly constructing, converting, and painting whatever I was
working on, not to mention all the research that went into the
subject you were recreating, and the cost could be prohibitive as
with a lot of hobbies. I find that 3D art gives me the same Buzz
but with quicker results, I can still construct and paint without
the mess!! Or the cleaning up!!! Who/what inspires you?
Life! Anything and everything around me, I can find inspiration
from simply watching a tv programme or reading something perhaps in
a magazine or book, the world is FULL of inspiration! How has
this online community (Renderosity) enhanced your work,
relationships, and learning? When I discovered Renderosity my
eyes were opened, here I had found a place to share and develop my
work with other likeminded people, here suddenly were people
willing to share with me and help me grow. Parting
Comments/Advice to other Artists? Well only to say perhaps if
you lack inspiration, open a door, open your eyes, it's there. I DO
want to thank all the members and staff here for welcoming me and
allowing me to be a part of this great community, you really make
it what it is...the Best! Best Regards, BigT :)
Be sure to check out Bigt's
gallery! Click on 'AOM 2003' on
the sidebar to learn more about Artist of the Month and to view our
past winners.

Article Comments

Congratulations on your win! I have enjoyed your dragons so much and I'm always looking for them in the Poser gallery...thanks for the smiles! Carol

jaydiva ()
posted at 12:00AM Tue, 03 June 2003

Congratulations Tony !!! Nice meeting you and getting to know a little about the Dragon Master ;)) Jutta

LaurieA ()
posted at 12:00AM Tue, 03 June 2003

Congrats on AOM! I have enjoyed your images greatly and have gotten many a chuckle when I needed one :o). Thanks so much! Laurie

Mint3D ()
posted at 12:00AM Tue, 03 June 2003

Hooray for the Dragonmaster !!! You and those 3 fellows surely have deserved this Tony .. Gongratulations and Big hugs to all of you :)

fretshredder ()
posted at 12:00AM Tue, 03 June 2003

Congratulations!!! Well deserved :-)

fauve ()
posted at 12:00AM Tue, 03 June 2003

This was a very well-deserved win. :) Your dragons always make me smile; you give the scaly guys so much personality! It's a pleasure to look at your images, not just for the great themes and humor, but for your excellent technical accomplishments with posing, lighting and composition. Congrats!

Kinouk ()
posted at 12:00AM Tue, 03 June 2003

Congratulations! Couldn't happen to a nicer dragon tamer. Hugz

Dejah ()
posted at 12:00AM Tue, 03 June 2003

Congrats Tony, your dragon series is absolutely wonderful!!!

SnowSultan ()
posted at 12:00AM Tue, 03 June 2003

Your images are always so much fun and so original! The galleries here would be a lot more interesting if we all had as much creativity as you. ;)

Prufrock81 ()
posted at 12:00AM Tue, 03 June 2003

We have alot in Common BigT. Glad to see an accomplished amateur getting the "nod" from such a well founded community as this - truley an inspiration to all of us!

Seven Wolves ()
posted at 12:00AM Tue, 03 June 2003

Hey, I've been to Yorkshire! Well deserved award man. Your series with the dragons just has me busting a gut everytime I see them. Pleeeeeese don't stop making them!! :)

Djeser ()
posted at 12:00AM Tue, 03 June 2003

Ditto on the congratulations, Tony; absolutely love your images! Always done with humor, talent, and sensitivity to the all-too-human foibles and failings of the "Terrible Trio".

gypsyangel ()
posted at 12:00AM Wed, 04 June 2003

Right on, Big T! I knew all the time you were going to win!! Your hero worshiping newbie... Laura

_samildanach_ ()
posted at 12:00AM Wed, 04 June 2003

I adore your work, congratulations!

BonBonish ()
posted at 12:00AM Wed, 04 June 2003

Congratulations! I love very much your funny images!

hyperborea ()
posted at 12:00AM Wed, 04 June 2003

Congratulations Tony! A man whose work creates a smile on peoples faces deserves to be in the spotlight for a while. Thanks for the joy you brought us! Willem and Madeleine

karanta ()
posted at 12:00AM Wed, 04 June 2003

Congratulations :-))) You do wonderful things with your dragons. I love your images so much. Always I have to smile since looking at your images. And that`s a really wonderful things to let such a lot of people smiling. Great Work :-))

Oh big congratulations! It is so very well deserved and an Englishman to boot ;) Yeah! Really love that you make so many people smile. Your dragons are fantastic!

babydollTX ()
posted at 12:00AM Wed, 04 June 2003

Congratulations, big guy, to you and your scaly friends. ^_^

luciferino ()
posted at 12:00AM Wed, 04 June 2003

I'm very very happy for your win, Congrats because with your art not only you have learning at a lot of person whet is the pure poser art, but because you have do at all of us a lot of laugh thanks a lot my friend big kisses Orietta

LadySmitthms ()
posted at 12:00AM Wed, 04 June 2003

I very much enjoy your work and it brightens my day, thank You for sharing and congrats! ~Lady~

Osirusblue ()
posted at 12:00AM Wed, 04 June 2003

Congratulations! Your work is always a wonderful experience to view, your stuff always brings a smile to my face typically after I pick myself back up off the floor from laughing hysterically!

Lyne ()
posted at 12:00AM Wed, 04 June 2003

If you do a book it better be available here in the states!! I would HAVE to have a copy!! I can't get enough of your humor and very classy images!! Thanks for always bringing a smile or a "laugh out loud" to my day!! Laughter IS the best medicine for all the world's ills! :)

derjimi ()
posted at 12:00AM Wed, 04 June 2003

I love your works and humor - Congrats!

linwhite ()
posted at 12:00AM Wed, 04 June 2003

You know I love your work, because I comment on everything you do...and hey, I sent you flowers BEFORE you were AOM...Hugs!! Linda

dialyn ()
posted at 12:00AM Wed, 04 June 2003

The award is well deserved. Your art is original, creative, has well developed themes, and it's all offered with a sense of humor and/or insight....everything that's good. You've made those crazy dragons your own. Good job! And congratulations!!!